Expression of programmed death ligand-1 on bladder tissues is detected in a clinically and histologically well-defined interstitial cystitis cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in interstitial cystitis (IC). METHODS: We reviewed the data of IC patients underwent hydrodistension plus bladder biopsy. Follow-ups were performed. We assessed the degree of inflammation of the bladder wall on slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). We performed immunohistochemistry for PD-L1 expression detection and for counting T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. RESULTS: The present study included eight men and 32 women. With H&E staining, we detected 13, 15, and 12 patients with mild, moderate, and severe inflammation. The degree of inflammation was negatively correlated with disease course (P = 0.018) and positively correlated with bladder pain (P < 0.001). Hydrodistension was found effective at postoperative 3-month for 19 patients. Overall, 17, 15, 7, and 1 subject had no, mild, moderate, and high PD-L1 expression, that correlated positively with the degree of inflammation. Compared with patients with no and mild PD-L1 expression, patients with moderate and high PD-L1 expression tended to have more effective hydrodistension outcomes (12 of 32 vs 7 of 8; P = 0.017). In the subset of 12 patients with severe inflammation, there were five of six patients (83.3%) with moderate or high PD-L1 expression and one of six patients (16.7%) with no and mild PD-L1 expression with an effective hydrodistension outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of PD-L1 on bladder is detected in a cohort of IC patients presented with diffuse global glomerulation or Hunner ulcer. PD-L1 expression is more common in IC patients with severe bladder inflammation.

Urodynamic characteristics of pelvic lipomatosis with glandular cystitis patients correlate with morphologic alterations of the urinary system and disease severity.

AIMS: To explore urodynamic characteristics and their clinical value in pelvic lipomatosis (PL) patients. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical information of 84 PL patients. A voiding pressure-flow study was used to classify patients into nonoutlet obstruction (NOO), latter-half-section obstruction (LHSO), or whole-section bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) groups. Urinary morphologic features were measured by imaging examination and cystoscopy. RESULTS: A unique LHSO that presented as sudden increasing detrusor pressure (Pdet) and decreasing flow rate in the latter half of voiding was observed for 52.4% (44 of 84) patients. Overall, 27.4% (23 of 84 patients) were diagnosed with BOO with whole-section increasing Pdet and decreasing flow rate. According to the morphologic feature analyses, the NOO patients had the largest angle of anteroposterior vesical walls (P < 0.001) and the least severe thickened bladder trigone (P = 0.015). The external compression at the bladder neck and thickened bladder trigone caused a prolonged and strictured bladder outlet tract (see the Supplementary video). There were 0, 5, and 4 urinary diversions performed in the NOO, LHSO, and BOO groups at diagnosis (P = 0.055). No patients in the NOO group, seven in the LHSO group, and two patients in the BOO group had disease progression at follow-up. Two LHSO patients and one BOO patients without hydronephrosis at diagnosis developed to hydronephrosis during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Morphologic alterations of the urinary system of PL patients lead to unique LHSO or BOO on UDS. The presences of LHSO and BOO are associated with disease severity and progression.

Carbon neutrality along the global value chain: an international embedded carbon network analysis.

Using the value-added method in the global input-output framework, embedded carbon transfers between economies are measured. Then, the international embedded carbon network (IECN) models are constructed and analyzed to reveal the real pattern of the IECN. Influential factors of the IECN are further explored with Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP). The main findings are as follows: first, the IECN has the characteristics of small world and scale-free. Developed economies led by the USA have high centrality indicators and always occupy the core position in the network; the network position of China and India has risen significantly with different network characteristics. Second, the subgroup relationships of the carbon network implied by international trade are becoming more and more complex and diverse, economies' participation in the global carbon chain is gradually increasing, and the number of edge nodes are decreasing. Third, the results of QAP analysis show that in addition to the negative impact of geographical distance on embedded carbon transfers between economies, inter-country trade agreement relations, differences in industrial structure, energy intensity, environmental regulation, economic size, and population size have a positive impact on embedded carbon transfers between economies. These findings can provide important practice implications for the global carbon neutrality.

Transvaginal management of symptomatic complex urethral diverticula by definite closure of diverticula and robust reconstruction of the urethra.

BACKGROUND: Management of complex urethral diverticula (UDs) is challenging not only for the ostia detection and urethral reconstruction in surgery but also for the high risk of postoperative complications. We aimed to present the experience of surgical management for UDs by transvaginal partial diverticulectomy and urethral reconstruction. METHODS: The database of medical record library was retrospectively searched for patients underwent partial diverticulectomy for symptomatic complex UDs. During the surgical procedure, the cystourethroscopy was firstly performed to locate the diverticular ostium. The surgeon exposed and opened the diverticulum along its maximum axis. The surgeon recorded the location of ostia where saline solution flowed out, when one assistant pressed suprapubic region to increase inner-pressure of bladder and urethra. We focused on definite closure of diverticular ostia and robust urethral reconstruction. RESULTS: The present study included 39 patients with mean age of 45 years. There were 28 patients, 23 patients and 21 patients suffering from recurrent urinary infection, frequency and urgency. Ten patients had stress urinary incontinence. All of the 39 patients had complex UDs because of U-shaped diverticula (24/39) and circumferential diverticula (15/39). Multiloculated UDs were detected in 17 out of 39 patients. During the median follow-up time of 2.0 (1.0-12.0) years, there was no case of de novo urinary incontinence. However, 2 patients still had mild stress urinary incontinence without additional treatment. At postoperative 3 months, five patients had para-urethral cysts with the size ranging from 0.3 to 0.4 cm, which were absorbed in follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The method of transvaginal partial diverticulectomy, definite closure of diverticular ostium, and layered reconstruction of the urethra is a feasible surgical alternative for UDs.

Morphologic changes after bladder neck intussusception in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy contribute to early postoperative continence.

PURPOSE: To explore the mechanism and efficacy of the modified bladder neck intussusception in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LSRP) on postoperative early continence. METHODS: We prospectively collected clinical information of prostate cancer patients who underwent LSRP with modified bladder neck intussusception (n = 10) and non-intussusception (n = 10). At postoperative 1 month, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), pad test, real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rt-MRI), and flow rate were performed. At postoperative 3 months, the PSA, pad test, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), incontinence questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF), and quality of life (Qol) were recorded. RESULTS: The intussusception and non-intussusception patients had similar baseline characteristics. At postoperative 3 months, intussusception patients had lower OABSS than non-intussusception patients (P = 0.038). The non-intussusception patients suffered from more severe incontinence (P = 0.026). The continence rate of intussusception patients was significantly higher (90% vs. 20%, P = 0.005). And intussusception patients had significantly lower Qol scores (P = 0.038). According to the morphologic analysis by rt-MRI, there were 7/10 non-intussusception patients and 2/10 intussusception patients having funnel-shaped bladder necks at Valsalva movement. The intussusception patients had larger angle between anterior and posterior wall at bladder neck (P = 0.029) and longer length of functional posterior urethra (P = 0.029). During micturition, the intussusception bladder neck was found to move less dynamically on X-axis and Y-axis, but the difference did not reach significance. CONCLUSIONS: The modified technique of bladder neck intussusception in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy prolongs the length of functional posterior urethra and is effective to improve postoperative early continence.

[Urodynamic analysis of dysuria in female patients].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the urodynamic diagnostic types of dysuria in female patients of different age groups. METHODS: Six hundred and sixteen female patients with dysuria were evaluated from March 1997 to July 2008. No patients had history of nervous system disease and history of lower urinary tract operations. They had detrusor pressure-flow studies and uroflowmetry. The urodynamic diagnostic types were analyzed in 3 different age groups. RESULTS: In 3 groups of 18 - 40 years, 40 - 60 years and > or = 60 years, the diagnosis of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) had the highest proportion (54.8%, 59.1% and 45.0% respectively). The distribution of detrusor overactivity, detrusor under-activity and normal function had no significant difference between 3 groups. The distribution of BOO and acontractile detrusor had significantly difference between 3 groups. When groups of 18 - 40 years and 40 - 60 years were combined into 18 - 60 years group and compared with the older group, the proportion of BOO, acontractile detrusor and detrusor under-activity showed significantly difference. The proportions of BOO in the two groups were 57.3% and 45.0%, acontractile detrusor 15.6% and 23.9%, detrusor under-activity 17.4% and 25.0%, respectively. The proportion of reduced bladder sensation among detrusor under-activity patients in the older group was significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: In the urodynamic diagnoses of voiding difficulty in female patients, bladder outlet obstruction has the highest proportion. This proportion decreases in the older patients. The proportion of acontractile detrusor and detrusor under-activity increases in the older group.

Association between overactive bladder and peri-menopause syndrome: a cross-sectional study of female physicians in China.

PURPOSE: To determine the detailed association between overactive bladder (OAB) and peri-menopause syndrome (PMpS) in Chinese female physicians of peri-menopausal age. METHODS: Data for this study were collected by administering questionnaires eliciting general information (peri-menopausal symptoms and OAB status) to middle-aged female physicians, from the directly affiliated three hospitals of Peking University in China. We used the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) to verify the symptoms of OAB and the modified Kupperman menopausal index (KMI) to assess PMpS. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-one questionnaires were finally evaluated. The average age was 47.1 ± 5.4 years. Overall, 7.4% of respondents had OAB and 22.6% had PMpS. There was a significant positive correlation between the severity of OAB and prevalence of OAB and PMpS. The prevalence of OAB in women with PMpS (KMI > 15) was significantly increased (18.99 vs. 4.44%; P = 0.000). The average OABSS in women with PMpS was 2.67 ± 2.15, compared with 1.46 ± 1.50 in women without PMpS. The average KMI score in women with OAB was 16.04 ± 10.1, compared with 9.50 ± 8.13 in women without OAB (P = 0.000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that only BMI and PMpS were independent risk factors for OAB. CONCLUSIONS: In China, female physicians with menopausal symptoms tend to have a higher prevalence of OAB and more severe symptoms of OAB.